Team draft philosophies are always evolving throughout the league, but no team has a more fascinating history with their first-round picks in the NFL Draft than the Washington Commanders. Here’s a look at that history in detail. How often have the Commanders used their picks, how often have they traded them away, and how often have they been successful?
Washington Commanders First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
In their full history dating back to 1936, the Commanders have made five future Hall of Fame picks in the first round of the NFL Draft. This is even more impressive when you realize that there was a stretch from 1965 to 1990 where the Commanders only made six total picks in Round 1. From 1969 to 1990, they only made three — two of which (Art Monk and Darrell Green) were Hall of Famers.
Across that stretch in the 20th century, Washington was known for trading away its first-round picks for established veterans, and that strategy bore fruit for them. Washington won three Super Bowl titles under head coach Joe Gibbs. Since 1990, the team has had far less success. They could soon add another Hall of Fame Round 1 pick to their tally in Trent Williams, however, who’s very likely a resident in Canton once he retires.
2024
- Jayden Daniels | Pick 2
QB, LSU
2023
- Emmanuel Forbes | Pick 16
CB, Mississippi State
2022
- Jahan Dotson | Pick 16
WR, Penn State
2021
- Jamin Davis | Pick 19
LB, Kentucky
2020
- Chase Young | Pick 2
DE, Ohio State
2019
- Dwayne Haskins | Pick 15
QB, Ohio State - Montez Sweat | Pick 26
DE, Mississippi State
2018
- Daron Payne | Pick 13
DT, Alabama
2017
- Jonathan Allen | Pick 17
DE, Alabama
2016
- Josh Doctson | Pick 22
WR, TCU
2015
- Brandon Scherff | Pick 5
OT, Iowa
2014
Washington traded the second pick to the St. Louis Rams.
2013
Washington traded the 22nd pick to the St. Louis Rams.
2012
- Robert Griffin III | Pick 2
QB, Baylor
2011
- Ryan Kerrigan | Pick 16
DE, Purdue
2010
- Trent Williams | Pick 4
OT, Oklahoma
2009
- Brian Orakpo | Pick 13
LB, Texas
2008
Washington traded the 21st pick to the Atlanta Falcons.
2007
- LaRon Landry | Pick 6
DB, LSU
2006
Washington traded the 22nd pick to the Denver Broncos.
2005
- Carlos Rogers | Pick 9
DB, Auburn - Jason Campbell | Pick 25
QB, Auburn
2004
- Sean Taylor | Pick 5
DB, Miami (FL)
2003
Washington traded the 13th pick to the New York Jets.
2002
- Patrick Ramsey | Pick 32
QB, Tulane
2001
- Rod Gardner | Pick 15
WR, Clemson
2000
- LaVar Arrington | Pick 2
LB, Penn State - Chris Samuels | Pick 3
OT, Alabama
1999
- Champ Bailey* | Pick 7
DB, Georgia
1998
Washington traded the 17th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.
1997
- Kenard Lang | Pick 17
DE, Miami (FL)
1996
- Andre Johnson | Pick 30
OT, Penn State
1995
- Michael Westbrook | Pick 4
WR, Colorado
1994
- Heath Shuler | Pick 3
QB, Tennessee
1993
- Tom Carter | Pick 17
DB, Notre Dame
1992
- Desmond Howard | Pick 4
WR, Michigan
1991
- Bobby Wilson | Pick 17
DT, Michigan State
1990
Washington traded the 20th pick to the Atlanta Falcons.
1989
Washington sent the 12th pick to the Chicago Bears as compensation for signing Wilber Marshall.
1988
Washington sent the 27th pick to the Chicago Bears as compensation for signing Wilber Marshall.
1987
Washington traded the 25th pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
1986
Washington traded the 17th pick to the Atlanta Falcons.
1985
Washington traded the 24th pick to the New Orleans Saints.
1984
Washington traded the 27th pick to the New York Giants.
1983
- Darrell Green* | Pick 28
DB, Texas A&M-Kingsville
1982
Washington traded the 14th pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
1981
- Mark May | Pick 20
G, Pittsburgh
1980
- Art Monk* | Pick 18
WR, Syracuse
1979
Washington traded the 12th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.
1978
Washington traded the 19th pick to the Arizona Cardinals.
1977
Washington traded the 19th pick to the Arizona Cardinals.
1976
Washington traded the 17th pick to the Miami Dolphins.
1975
Washington traded the 22nd pick to the San Diego Chargers.
1974
Washington traded the 20th pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
1973
Washington traded the 25th pick to the Baltimore Colts.
1972
Washington traded the 20th pick to the New York Jets.
1971
Washington traded the 10th pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
1970
Washington traded the 17th pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
1969
Washington traded the 10th pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
1968
- Jim Smith | Pick 12
DB, Oregon
1967
- Ray McDonald | Pick 13
RB, Idaho
1966
- Charlie Gogolak | Pick 6
K, Princeton
1965
Washington traded the sixth pick to the Chicago Bears.
1964
- Charley Taylor* | Pick 3
WR, Arizona State
1963
- Pat Richter | Pick 7
TE, Wisconsin
1962
- Ernie Davis | Pick 1
HB, Syracuse
1961
- Norm Snead | Pick 2
QB, Wake Forest - Joe Rutgens | Pick 3
DT, Illinois
1960
- Richie Lucas | Pick 4
QB, Penn State
1959
- Don Allard | Pick 4
QB, Boston College
1958
Washington traded the fourth pick to the Los Angeles Rams.
1957
- Don Bosseler | Pick 9
FB, Miami (FL)
1956
- Ed Vereb | Pick 12
HB, Maryland
1955
- Ralph Guglielmi | Pick 4
QB, Notre Dame
1954
- Steve Meilinger | Pick 8
DE, Kentucky
1953
- Jack Scarbath | Pick 3
QB, Maryland
1952
- Larry Isbell | Pick 7
HB, Baylor
1951
- Leon Heath | Pick 4
FB, Oklahoma
1950
- George Thomas | Pick 6
HB, Oklahoma
1949
- Rob Goode | Pick 8
HB, Texas A&M
1948
- Harry Gilmer | Pick 1
QB, Alabama - Lowell Tew | Pick 4
FB, Alabama
1947
- Cal Rossi | Pick 4
HB, UCLA
1946
- Cal Rossi | Pick 9
HB, UCLA
1945
- Jim Hardy | Pick 8
QB, USC
1944
- Mike Micka | Pick 8
FB, Colgate
1943
- Jack Jenkins | Pick 10
FB, Vanderbilt
1942
- Spec Sanders | Pick 6
HB, Texas
1941
- Forest Evashevski | Pick 10
QB, Michigan
1940
- Ed Boell | Pick 8
QB, NYU
1939
- I.B. Hale | Pick 8
OT, TCU
1938
- Andy Farkas | Pick 9
FB, Detroit Mercy
1937
- Sammy Baugh* | Pick 6
QB, TCU
1936
- Riley Smith | Pick 2
QB, Alabama
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
